AMHERST, Mass. -- The MCLA men's basketball team, behind the duo of Drury graduate Hayden Bird and Mike Demartinis, rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to defeat Framingham State 90-81 in non league action Saturday afternoon in the Ken Wright Invitational consolation round.  

 

The Rams (1-2) led comfortably at halftime 51-40 behind Manny Payton's solid play. The Trailblazers (1-2) came out of the locker room a different team however, as they kept up their full court pressure on the FSU squad. MCLA forced a total of 34 Ram turnovers, 21 of which came after halftime.

 

MCLA opened the pivotal second half with an 11-2 spurt to get within two at 53-51 after a Demartinis layup. The Rams quieted the rally and eventually led by nine at 62-53 with 13 minutes left to play, and then 69-62 later on. FSU never trailed again until late in the contest.

 

The Trailblazers kept on coming though and with the score at 77-71 in favor of the Rams, MCLA rallied. Quran Davis' tip in started the game changing run and when he added two free throws with 3:30 left, MCLA finally tied it up at 77-77.

 

After a Ki-Shawn Monroe FT gave MCLA a one point edge, Bird made a driving layup to put the Trailblazers up three at 80-77. They never trailed again. The MCLA defense allowed just four points the rest of the way, while the Rams had no answers for Bird and Demartinis down the stretch.

 

Demartinis completed a great weekend with a 21 point effort on 5-11 shooting. He went 11-for-13 from the FT line and for the weekend was 23-for-25 from the stripe. Bird was outstanding as well ending with 19 points, five steals, and eight rebounds. He canned a trio of 3-pointers.

 

Joaquin Scullark and Davis each ended with 12 points and Davis added seven caroms. The Trailblazers shot 45 percent in the win.

 

MCLA is back in action on Tuesday when they head over to Williams College.

 

Women's Basketball

KEENE, N.H. -- MCLA's L'Rae Brundige scored a career-high 20 points to rally the Trailblazers past Keene State, 67-59.

 

Brundige was outstanding going 10-14 from the floor for her 20 point night. She added three assists and a pair of rebounds. Courtney Pingelski added 11 points and a team best 12 rebounds in the win. Sam Gawron added 12 points including a key bucket with under two minutes left to play to lift MCLA (2-1).

 

The Trailblazers are back in action at home on Tuesday looking for their third straight win as they host Mount Holyoke.